Control mechanism for hopper car doors



Get. 31, 19326 H. s. HART CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HQP-PEH GAR DOORS Fild Nov. 7, l931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 nacooooaounoco woo a no DuOQO DOOOOQOQ OQDO Zmrezz Z0) 4 Ear/:9: jfarii Z F iz or 81 6 act, 1-1, 1932. H. s. HART 9 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOPPER CAR DOORS Filed Nov. 7. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zea Oct. 11, 1932 s, HART 1,882,217

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOPPER CAR DOORS Filed Nov. 7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 if} I /7 @3333 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT FicEf HARRY s. HART, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T mm BALLAST CAR' COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR-PORATIQN OF MAINE 7 CONTROL mncnemslvrjronnorrnn CAR noons 7 Application filed November 7, 1931. SerialNo. 573,573.

This invention relates to a new and im-} proved control mechanism for the doors of railway hopper cars and is particularly designed'for the inner doors of hopper cars having longitudinally disposed V-shaped hoppers on opposite sides of the center sill, each provided with a pair of discharge doors pivoted on an axis located at the apex of the V definingthe contour of the hoppers.

:It is an object of the present invention to' provideoperating and control mechanism for carried in the car. 7 a

Control mechanisms heretofore employed for this use have had a positive, moving force exerted in the closing direction only, and have relied on the weight of the lading in the car for eifecting the opening movement of the door.v This'type of mechanism has been found imperfect in performance due to the factthat the doors in some instances become stuck so that they will not move an? tomatically in the opening direction under the gravitationalforce of the lading when the operating means is released. 7 It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide :a door operating means, the use of which will eliminate anylsticking of the door in the objectionable manner above referred to. A 4 a It is a further objectof this invention to provide a door operatingmechanism which is simple in construction and yet'positive and eficient in operation and which may be actuated by means readily accessible to the operator for quick and positive discharge of the lading of the car.

It is a further'objectof this invention to provide a mechanism which is adapted for installation in the limited space provided therefor in cars of standard construction and which is adapted for combinationwith the structural parts i now constituting the standard A. R. A. car under structures. These and other objects not specifically 'posite sides of the center sills.

enumerated, will readily appear to one skilled in the art as the following description proceeds.

The present disclosure is merely given by way of example and-should not be considered as limiting the invention in any respect as the scope ofthe invention should be determined from the appended claims and an appreciation of the advantages which the invention produces in the disclosed embodiment.

The following description may be more. V

readilyunderstood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure'l is a side elevational'view of a railway, car constructed with longitudinal V- shaped'hoppers on each side of the center sill and equipped with doorcontrol mechanism constructed in accordance with this inven-- tion; 7 i

Figure 2'is a cross sectional view of the car shown in Figurel; 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view, partly in cross section, showing a fragment of the car and the door control mechanism as seen fromthe side; r

Figure 4 isan enlarged transverse view, partly in cross section, disclosing the car cen ter sill, the inner hopper doors in closed posi-' tion, and the door operating mechanism therefor, and t Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the doors in open position.

By referringv tothedrawings, it will be noted that the present invention is disclosed as applied to a. hopper car 10, having the usual under structure 11 and body 12, p-rovided with'a center sill 13. The bottom of V inner hopper doors 17', a pair of longitudinally disposed vV-shaped hoppers on op- The inner andout'er doors ,ofea'chhopper are mount ed forrpivotal movement on axes 18 located at the apex ,of the V defining the contour of the Shoppers so that the doors move downwardly in opening for discharge of the ladit ing. In cars of this character, itis customary to provide separate door control means for the inside hopper doors and the outside hopper doors, and no change is made in this customary arrangement by the present 1n trol mechanism for theiinnerdoors of i'jtype that actuates both doors simultaneously.

It is the mechanism which is .employed'for.

operating the inner doors that constitutes the subject matterof this i-n ventionif' The control mechanism of this invention comprises a long shaft 20, disposed below the center s1lls and mountecl for rotation in brackets21 and 22 secured to the under side of the center'- sill. *There are preferably two such shafts similarly mounted 'for the entire car; each shaft extending the length ofthe two co-eX-- tensive hoppers located throughout one-half the length of the car. In the present disclosure, eachof the inside doors isprovided withdu'pl'icat e mechanisms attached to the doors at the opposite ends. By referringt FigureSB, 4:1 and 5, of the'drawings, it will be noted that hubs 23' and 24 are provided fixed tothe shaft d'ooris open.

and disposed on opposite sidesyof'bracket 22. Each of these hubs is provided with 'a pair of spaced, radial ears"25, havi-ng hearing openings in the end thereof for pivots 26. The hubs aredisposed on the shaftso that the ears of the hub 23;.are' at a 90 degree angle to the ears of the hub 24, and also, in such manner that the ears will be. positioned upwardly as shownin Figure 4, when the vdoors are in closed position. l a 7 Mounted onthe'pivot 26*carried by each lug, is a hook shaped link 27,*carryinga bearing pin 28, in the lowerendthereof. This bearing-pin 28 is pivotally connected to the intermediateportion of aiever 30, pivoted at its upper end in a bearing 31, carried in the lower portion of bracket 22.

It willibe noted that the bearing 31 lies im-- I v V shaped link 27 will be resisted by the aligned mediately below the shaft'20. 7

On the under side- 0f each of'th'e inside doors, a bracket 32- is providedhavingan elongated slot'33therein adapted to receive the pin 34, c'arried'in theouterend of the lever 30.- A lever andthe=door"17*areso arranged as to constitute anpair of slidably connected toggle links so that when-the toggle mechanism is disposed in the maximum upper position the door is closed andlwhen disposed in a maximum loWer positionthe '1 In view of the fact that the opposite doors are actuated byhubs'23'and24,axially dis placed onjthe same shaft, it is necessary to project the edge of"one ofthei doors a v direction longitudinally of the car beyond the point necessary for merely closing the hopper opening. This is clearly shown by comparing Figures 3 and 5, wherein Fig-- ure 3, the door 17, on theleft hand side of V the car is shown projected asat v17 in a manner to position the slide 32-c'arriedby the edge of the door, in close proximity to the links 30. and27 disposed to the left hand side; bracket 22.1 "On the other hand, the door of the right hand hopper is actuated by means of thehub-23 and links on the right hand side ofthe bracket 22 whereby the edge of thedoor maybe terminate'dto position the slidebracket 32 closer to the hopper open- *The' extendedhopper may be deter'mined fromFigure 3,1wherethe end wall 40 and sloping floor 41 are shown; 'Theend'wall serves to close the endf'of the hopper Where'- as the doors 'are each 'provided'with an upstanding extension 42, moving with the door to; form anextension of'theen'd wall 40 for. guiding the 3 ladingduring discharge. It is preferable to construct the door on one side ofthe'c'ar with an extension at one end, but

to provide the extension at the opposite end 7 on the opposite door, whereby a symmetri-- V calbut reversed installation is provided;

' An important factorjof this mechanism'is that the pivot 31, carried by the bracket 32,

isso disposed-with respect to the door' and the actuating mechanism, that-the link 30-isdispos'ed'g at substantially right angles to the plane of the door when the door is closed, whereby the door is efiectively locked in;

closed position "by positive prop? which serves 'tosupport the load oflading resting on the'doonfi 1 Another important .feature'resides in -the construction of" the hook-shaped" link' 27,-

whereby the end bearing-sor-pivots thereof will be disposed atdiametricallyopposite points of the hubs a'nd24 and in a straight line with the centerofthe shaft 20, when-the door is'iin closedfposition." This arrangement is clearly shown in Figure 4, where it will be observedthat any force 'in'an opening direction exerted on the lower end of thehookdisposition of the link hearings on opposite V sidesof'the centerofthe'shaftp In this man-z ner the actuating mechanism is effectivelyheld and looked when the door is'in closed position,'whereby the liiik 30 is positively heldagain'st movement and being so held.

fixed to the shaft and :disposed for engage onthe trans}- ment with the worm .51? mounted verse shaft 52e ';}The transverse shaft preferably extends'in opposite directions'from the center,to a position adjacent the sides of the car with suitable construction in the ends for-imparting rotary movement by manual operation. This may be done by a crank, lever or other con-- ventional mechanism now used for this purpose, preferably duplicated at both sides, whereby the inner doors maybe'operated from either side of the car.

'Inoperation, the inner doors at the opposite sides of the car, are operated simultane'ously by merely operating the shaft 52 p from eitherside of the car. Upon rotation in the proper direction, a rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 20, through the worm and worm gear 51 and 50 respectively, all in a manner to give'rotation to the shaft 20 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig ure 4.

doors to'continue their opening movement until they assume the maximum open position such as shown in F gure 5, when the pivots 34;

in the ends of the links '30 have reached the extreme outer position of the elongated slots In open position, the links 30 are located in substantially the position of the tangent to the arc of swing of the door which passing through the pivot 31, so that the load of thedoor in this position and the discharging lading thereon is supported with a maximum- 45 It is observed that the reverse ,rotationof.

the shaft will serve to move the link mecha- 111SII1 upwardly with a corresponding movement of the door until thelink 30. approaches the maximum upper position where itfis gradually wedged into a locking, propping positionwith the end of the doc The mechanical advantage effected by thisarrangement is very great, so that there is very little tendency for the links 30 to become displaced from their propping positions withthe doors. Consequently,"the'reis very little load placed on the links 27. when the.

door is in closed position.

Furthermore, although the load on the links 27f is only a slight one, they are so constructed that their pivots are disposed in alignment with the center of the shaft2O and on opposite sides thereof whereby the link 30 is directly supported by the shaft 20 and locked against accidental movement. l

The door mechanism of this. invention not.

only provides for positive actuation in-both directions of movement,-:but also provides 1 means for maximum efficiency-in supporting the door in closed position free from liability of becoming disengaged under'the load of the supported ladingp Iclaim: a y 1. In combination with ahopper car having a longitudinal V-shaped hopper on one side of the center sill and an inner doortherefor pivoted at its/bottom edge'at the apex of the hopper, control means therefor comprising a link mounted for pivotal movement at substantially the center line of said car and in substantially the horizontal plane of the hinge of said door, said link having a sliding connection at its outer end. with said door and means for oscillating said link for opening'and closing said door. V

2. In combination with a hopper car hav ing a longitudinal V-shaped hopper on one side of the center sill and an inner door-there'- for hingedat its lower edge at'the apex of saidhopper, controlmeans therefor comprising-a link pivoted below the center sill ofsaid car having sliding connection with said door,

means for moving said link'for opening and closing said door, said link being construeted and arranged to approach afposition perpendicular to the plane of said door in movement through the final closingpositionswhereby said link forms a wedged support for said i door in closed position.

3. In combination with a hopper car having a longitudinally disposed V-shaped hoppertooneside of the center silland an 1 ner door thereforhinged at its lower edgeto the apex of said hopper, control means therefor comprising links pivotallymounted centrally of the car'having sliding connections with 'saiddoor for impartingopening and 7, closing movement thereto said linksand door constituting slidably connected toggles constructed and arranged so that said links asr sume positions substantiallyperpendicular to said'door in the extreme open and closed positions whereby said links form strap supports for said door-in openjpos-ition and wedging props for the outer edge of said door in closed position," and means for imparting opening and closingfmovement to said links.

4'. In combination witha hopper car hav-' ing a longitudinally disposed eV-shapedhopper to one side of the center sill and an in-.

ner door therefor hin'ged at its lowerieclge to the apexof said hopper, control means therefor comprising links pivotally' mounted cen- I trallyof the car having sliding connections 1 with said door for imparting opening and closing movement thereto, said links anddoor 7 constituting slidably connected toggles con-' structedand arranged so that said links assinne positions-substantially perpendicular to said door inthe extreme open and closed positions. whereby said links form strap supports 7 doors.

for said door in open position .andwedgingprops for the outer edge of said door in closed position, and means for: imparting opening.

and closing movement to said links, comprising a: longitudinal shaft above the pivot of I said links, hubs on said shaft and other links connecting said hubs and first named links, whereby rotation of saidcsha ft will raise or lower said firstnamed links for operating said lncombination witha hopper'car having a longitudinal V-shaped'hopperon one;

side of the center sill and an inner door there.-

fonhinged at its lower edge at the apex of said hopper, control means for said door con1pris-- ing alongitudinal shaft, a crank arm fixed to:

- rotate with said shaft, and alink-pivotally connected to, said crank arm, a second link pivoted below said shaft having slldingconnection with said door and a eonnectionintermediate of its length withsaid first named link, said second link and doornconstitntin'g a slidably connected toggle disposed and arranged so that said second linkassumes a posi- 0nd link pivoted below said shaft having.

sliding connection with said door and a coninection intermediate of its-length with sald first named link, said second link and door constituting a slidably connected-toggle disposed and arranged so that said seeond link assumes a position substantially perpendicib J lanto the plane of said door when the latter is in closedpositiontoform a self-sustaining wedging prop for said door, said first named link being of hooked constructionwhereby to over-lie and hang onsaid 'shaftfwhenthe door g g I cranks secured to said shaft, and links conis inclosed position. 7 v, 7;; In combination with a hopper car having a longitudinal V-shaped hopper and 1 an inner door therefor, hinged at its'lower edge at the apex of said hopper, control meansfor said door comprising a; longitudinal shaft located centrally of saidxear, a hub havln'ga radially, "extending bearing fixed to rotate with said shaft anda hook-shaped link'hav ing one end connected with s'aid'bea ring, a

lever pivotedbelow saidshaft having: sliding connection with said door andpivotallyjconnected intermediate its length to. the other nd 9 s ii eb h re 'linkh e d h k-' shaped link being adapted-to over-lie'and, hang on said hubj when the; hopper, door, is in closed'position'with. its end bearings on pp'ositesides. of andin alignment with, the center'of'said shaft. i u v .7

8., Infcombination with a hopper car-having a longitudinal- V-shaped hopper and an inner doortherefor, hinged at its lower; edge at the apex of said hopper, control means for said door comprising a longitudinal shaft located centrally of said car, a hub having a radially extending bearing vfixed to rotate with said shaft and a hook shaped link having one end connected with said bearing, a

lever. pivotedbelow said shaft having sliding connection with said door pivotally connected intermediate its lengthto the end of said'hook-shaped link, said-hook-shapedlink being adapted toover-lie and hang on. said i hub whenthe hopperdoor is in closed posi 'tion with itsend bearings on'oppositesides of and in alignment with the centerjof-said shaft, said lever being constructed and arrangedto form [a slidingly connected toggle with said door and to provide a perpendicib larly disposed wedging'prop for the upper edge of said door when the latter'is in'closed position.

9. In combinationwith a hopper'carhaving longitudinally disposed V-shaped hop-j 7 pers on opposite sides of'the centersilland inner doors therefor liinged at their lower. edgesto theapices of said hoppers, control means for saiddoor, 1 comprising a. pair of levers pivotally mounted between said doors withtheir outer ends sli'dably connected "to said doors respectively, means for oscillating said levers comprising a longitudinal shaft, cranks secured to said shaft and links pon'n'ectingsaid cranks and levers respectivelO; In combination with a hopper car having longitudinally disposed V s hapeda hop: pers on opposite'side's of the center sill and in'nerdoors therefor hinged at their lower edges to the apices of said hoppers, control meansfor said door, comprising a pair of 'levers pivotally mounted between said doors with their outer ends 'slidably connected to said doors-respectively, means for oscillating said levers comprising a longitudinalsha ft,

necting said cranks and levers respectively, and means for-imparting rotary movement to said shaft but resisting jaccidental rotation thereof. i

. 11. Incombination witha hopper 1 car hav ing longitudinally disposed V-shapedLhopedges to the apices-of said hoppers, jcontrol means, for sald door, comprising a pair. of

person opposite sides of the center sillrand inner doors, therefor .hingedfat their ilowerll 5 ing said levers comprising a longitudinal shaft, cranks secured to said shaft and links connecting said cranks and levers respective ly, and means for rotating said shaft com ,1 prising a transverse shaft having means for o manually imparting rotation thereto at its opposite ends adjacent the sides of said car and a worm and worm gear connection between said transverse and longitudinal m shafts. t u 12. In combination with a hopper car hav ing longitudinally disposed V-shaped hop-f pers on opposite sides of the center'sill and inner doors therefor hinged'at their lower edges to the apices of said hoppers, con trol means for said door, comprising a pair of levers pivotally mounted between said doors with their outer ends slidably con'- nected to said doors respectively, means for oscillating said levers comprising a lo ng'itudinal shaft, cranks secured to said shaft and links connectingsaid cranks and levers respectively, said levers and links being longitudinally displaced with an extension 25 on the door controlled by the outermost link and lever whereby to provide a slidingconnection between the said lever and door at the edge of the latter. 7 13. In a railroad car of the hopper type having longitudinal V-shaped hoppers on opposite sides of the center sill, and inside doors for said hoppers pivoted at the apices of said hoppers and adapted to open downward- 1y, control means for said inside doors for 35 positively and simultaneously opening and closing said inside doors. w 14:. In a railroad car of the'hopper type having longitudinal V-shaped hopperson opposite sides of the center sill, and inside and an outside doors for said hoppers pivoted at the apices of said hoppers and adapted to open downwardly, control means for said outside doors and control means for positively and simultaneously opening and closing said inside doors.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day' of October, 1931.

HARRY S. HART. V 

